Strike plate



April 20, 1965 T. a. memo STRIKE PLATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Jan. 16, 1962 INVENTOR. THOMAS G. SCONZO *PMU M,

ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 T. s. SCONZO 3,179,458

STRIKE PLATE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS G. Scouzo WWW ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 3,179,453 STRIKE PLATE Thomas G. Sconzo, Macon St., Sayville, NY. Filed Jan. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 166,665 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-34115) This invention relates to door mounting and fastening hardware, and more particularly to an improved striker of or fastening assembly of the type used in conjunction with a door equipped with a spring-latch bolt assembly.

In the application of exterior storm doors, and especially those storm doors which are made of a metal such as aluminum, to existing structures, such as Wooden door frames, it is found that because of the very high strength and rigidity of the metal door rails, it is possible to manufacture them of relatively light members, so that the door rails have a cross sectional area of metal which is much less than that usually encountered as in a wooden door rail.

Although spring latches of the conventional type have been applied to these doors, this requires such an extensive cutting away of the cross section of the rail in order to provide an adequate mortise for the assembly that the strength of the door rail is thereby impaired. It also follows that in an effort to avoid such extensive cutting, the structure of the spring latch has been miniaturized to the point where its reliability has been impaired.

I have found that removing the spring latch mechanism from the door assembly and incorporating this function into a door-jamb mounted striker plate eilectively dispenses with this difi'iculty. It appears, however, that when this is done, some considerable additional diiliculties are encountered in the accurate location of the striker plate on the door frame because of the necessity of positioning it both vertically and laterally and also axially of the door plane. This three dimensional accuracy is required because of the immovable location of the fixed bolt used on the door, and is in contrast to the more vertical location usually required in mounting the conventional door latch striker plate.

In view of this, and further because of the fact that such installations frequently are made by amateurs whose convenience is best served by a rather wide range of adjustment in the installation of the striker plate, I have discovered that it is possible to provide an adjustable striker plate whose exact position of installation is relatively immaterial, since it can be adjusted to provide the desired efiect of tight door closure under widely varying conditions of installation.

In addition to this, it is essential for the durable construction of a spring actuated striker plate such as mine, that careful attention'be given to the correct arrangement of the springs in the limited space available for their retention. Such springs have in the past been provided in striker plates in an exposed condition where they are subject to the accumulation of dirt and Water due to their use on exterior doors. It is well known that the best practice in employing compression springs where the utmost reliability is imperative, as for example in the die designing technology, is to encapsulate the spring in closely fitting telescoping capsule halves to protec" it from such damaging environmental influences. Such procedure is impractical in the limited dimensions of a striker plate, however, and I have found that a difierent See Patented Apr.

rate of change of length in respect to compressive force so that it is unnecessary to resort to the use of a curved or distorted spring to obtain satisfactory performance as has been done in some cases, with attendant disadvantages of eXCessiVe operating friction and spring exposure.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved door latch striker plate with a resiliently retractable engagement member.

It is another object to provide such a device which is fully adjustable for door engagement after installation of the striker.

It is one other object to provide such a device wherein resilient striker springs are eiiectively protected from contamination and corrosion.

it is a further object to provide such a device wherein cylindrical springs are usable to best advantage.

These objects I attain by the provision of a novel combination of components which will be understood from the following detailed description of a specific illustrative example of the best method of practisingthe invention, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a door striker assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of PEG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one of the components of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a component interfitting with that of FIG. 2 in FlG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an interior insert into the component of FIG. 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an alternative structure corresponding to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an alternative structure corresponding to FIG. 4 adapted to receive the structure of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of PEG. 7 and FIG. 6 with the structure of FIG. 6 in place of that of FIG. 7.

PEG. 9 is an isometric view of an assembly alternative to that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line ill-l0 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of one of the components of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another of the components of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an assembly of FIG. 9.

Turning now to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 a striker plate assembly composed of a base member 12, an inserted portion 13, and a movable striker 14 whose interrelationship may be observed in the sectional view of FIG. 2 where the round striker 14 is seen to be secured in end pieces 15 for downward motion against tension of the springs 16. 7

FIG. 3 shows base member 12 to have slots 1'7 dispose diagonally for adjusting the mounting position in the inand-out direction, that is, normally to the plane of the doorway in which it is installed, because the length of the round striker rod 14 permits of some latitude in adjustment vertically in order to attain such necessary tightening of the fit of the door. Minor vertical adjustment of base 17 in the event of mis-application also are possible without serious consequences to the fit of the door. Sawtooth ridges such as 18 engage corresponding elements 19 in portion 13 seen in FIG. 4. Tapped holes, such as 21, retain the set screws 22 of FIG. 2 whereby portion 13 is retained in lateral position. It will be observed that by engaging portion 13 to the full depth in the fully downwardly retracted position in base 12, as shown in FIG. 1, one height and in-and-out position of striker bar 14 are established, but that by inserting portion 13 in a higher position in the grooves 18 various adjustable heights may be obtained, and also that various in-and-out positions may be selected according to the position in which portion 13 is clamped by the screws 22 at any selected height.

A slot 23 in the portion 13 guides and retains the end pieces 15 and striker rod 14 seen in PEG. 5, for vertical motion therein. Cylindrical cap portions 24 on the end pieces 15 retain, protect, and guide the compression springs 16 which are located in part within them.

Where a more compact profile having protruding portions rounded and of a yielding nature is desired, the assembly shown in FIG. 8, corresponding in function to a portion "of that shown in FIG. 2 is applicable. It is there seen that the base member 12 retains the assembly comprising the striker rod 31 in a modified form of inserted portion 32, as seen more clearly in F168. 6 and 7 respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a striker rod 31 retained in end pieces 35 having cylindrical cap portions 33 for retention of the springs 16. End pieces 35 are of appropriate dimensions to protrude through the slots 34'- in the inserted portion 32 seen in PEG. 7, and are normally upwardly urged by the springs 16 until contact occurs between cap portions 33 and the lower interior edges of slots 34.

In FIG. 9 there is seen an alternative form of structure comprising a base plate 41 having diagonal slots 42 for adjustable mounting and an inserted portion 43 containing a striker rod 44 movable in the manner to be seen in FIG. 10.

As shown in P16. and in the details of the parts thereof comprising FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, set screws 45 in the holes such as as of the base plate 41, retain in the dovetail grooves 47 the mating dovetails 4-8 by friction pressure of their conical points 4-9 in the grooves 51 of the inserted portion 43, which is thereby rendered adjustable as toheight in infinitesimally small steps.

The striker rod 44 is retained in end pieces 52. having cylindrical cap portions 53 in which are retained springs bearing against metal discs '54. These discs may be so proportioned as to diameter as to provide a press fit into the lower openings of inserted portion 43 in order to retain springs 16 at a desired tension independent of the elevation determined by the set screws 45, and also in order to provide a unitary insert assembly which will not fall apart during installation.

Although this invention has been described in terms of specific illustrative examples thereof, it will be understood that various elaborations and modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art, which do not, however, depart from the essential spirit of the invention, and it is therefore intended that the invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door striker comprising a base plate, diagonally disposed slot means for adjusting the location of the base plate,

striker bar means comprising return spring capsule means at each end thereof and return springs for each of said capsule means,

retainer means for said striker bar means engageable with said base plate in adjustably intergrooved sliding relationship, and

fastening means on said base plate adjustable to prevent retainer means sliding.

2. In a door striker,

base plate means comprising a base plate having a pair of diagonally disposed mounting slots therein in the base portion thereof and a pair of pillar means defining an aperture,

a depressible and resiliently biased round striker bar,

terminal means on each end of said bar having a cylindrical cavity for resilient bias means retention,

striker bar retention means comprising a member insertable in the aperture of said base plate and having end portions interfitting with said pillar means of said base plate and adjustable to at least five discrete elevations therein, and

insert member retention means in said pillar means engageable with said insertable member for adjustable insertable member retention.

3. In a door striker,

a base plate having diagonal slots in the base and pillar means comprising a pair of upright pillars having parallel grooves in the facing sides thereof,

a depressible striker bar,

terminal fittings on the ends of said striker bar having cylindrical cavities directed radially of the bar,

compression springs in said cavities,

striker bar retention means comprising a. structure enveloping said springs and cavities for striker bar protrusion and having opposite ends provided with parallel grooves and complementary to and interfittiing with the grooves of said upright pillars in slidable relationship thereto,

and set screw means in said pillar means engaging said striker bar retention means for prevention of sliding.

4. In a door striker,

base plate means comprising a base plate having a pair of diagonally disposed mounting slots therein in the base portion thereof and a pair of upright pillar means having faces defining an aperature, said faces having a series of parallel lateral grooves therein,

a depressible and resiliently biased round striker bar,

terminal means on each end of said bar having a cylindrical cavity for resilient bias means retention,

striker bar retention means comprising a member inserted in the aperture of said base plate and having ends formed with a series of parallel lateral grooves for interfitting with said pillar means of said base plate in a series of at least five discrete elevations, and

insert member retention means in said pillar means engageable with said member for adjustable member retention.

5. A door striker adjustable in three mutually perpendicular directions which comprises a base plate having diagonal mounting slots therein,

a pair of pillars on the base plate,

serrations on mutually opposed faces of said pillars,

retainer means insertable between said pillars having serrations on a pair of opposite faces thereof interfit-ting with the serrations said pillars for sliding only in one direction,

striker means in said retainer means comprising a bar and a pair of axially directed cups on said bar,

resilient 'bar return means in said cups, and clamping means operable between said base and said retainer means to prevent sliding.

6. In a door striker,

base plate means comprising a base plate having a pair of diagonally disposed mounting slots therein in the base portion thereof and a pair of upright pillar means having faces defining 5 an aperature, said faces having vertically grooved portions therein,

a depressible and resiliently biased round striker bar,

terminal means on each or" said bar having a cylindrical cavity for resilient bias means retention,

striker bar retention means comprising a member inserted in the aperture of said base plate and having ends formed with vertically grooved faces complementary with and engaging the said grooved porfirms of said pillar means for vertical sliding in said 15 aperture, and

References fired by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Schmidgall 292-341.18 Rhein 292-341.15 Friedman et a1. 292--341.15 Russell 292-34118 Gerth 292-341.15

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner. 

1. A DOOR STRIKER COMPRISING A BASE PLATE, DIAGONALLY DISPOSED SLOT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE LOCATION OF THE BASE PLATE, STRIKER BAR MEANS COMPRISING RETURN SPRINGS FOR MEANS AT EACH END THEREOF AND RETURN SPRINGS FOR EACH OF SAID CAPSULE MEANS, RETAINER MEANS FOR SAID STRIKER BAR MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BASE PLATE IN ADJUSTABLY INTERGROOVED SLIDING RELATIONSHIP, AND FASTENING MEANS ON SAID BASE PLATE ADJUSTABLE TO PREVENT RETAINER MEANS SLIDING. 